Super Rugby Line Ups | Round 3

The Super Rugby line ups ahead of this weekend's action.

Blues v Crusaders

The Blues will have all their key All Blacks back on starting duties led by captain Patrick Tuipulotu and Ofa Tuungafasi who along with James Parsons will make their first starts this season, completing a formidable front row with the in-form Karl Tu’inukuafe. The back row remains intact from the win over the Waratahs with All Black flanker Dalton Papalii joining Blake Gibson and Hoskins Sotutu, who both produced eye-catching displays in Newcastle.

The backline remains unchanged with the likes of Stephen Perofeta nearing his blazer game and dual international Matt Duffie closing in on his 50^th for the Blues.

Scott Robertson has named his side for week three of Super Rugby, and it includes an unchanged line up in the tight five. In the loose forwards, an injury to Whetukamokamo Douglas means Tom Sanders will shift to No. 8, and Cullen Grace earns his first Crusaders start on the blindside. Grace's promotion to the starting side means Sione Havili comes in to the match day team for the first time in 2020 and will make his debut appearance for the Crusaders if called on in the reserves. The 22-year-old already has one Super Rugby cap to his name and, ironically, it was for the Blues against the Rebels back in 2018. 

In the backs, both Bryn Hall and Richie Mo'unga join the starting team for this game, and David Havili returns to fullback. Mitch Drummond and Will Jordan move to the bench. 

Melbourne Rebels v Waratahs

Rob Penney has made several changes to his Round 2 side, with Angus Bell making his Super Rugby starting debut in the front row alongside Robbie Abel and Harry Johnson-Holmes.

Jed Holloway replaces Lachlan Swinton in the back row, while Jack Maddocks joins the starting XV on the left win in place of Mark Nawaqanitawase. Alex Newsome shifts from the right wing to outside centre, as Cameron Clark makes his first appearance for the 2020 season.

Sunwolves v Chiefs

The Sunwolves have once again included Ben Te'o in their starting line up to face the Chiefs, he is joined by former Chief Mitch Jacobson.

Meanwhile, former All Black loose forward Adam Thomson returns to Super Rugby making his Chiefs debut at six with Lachlan Boshier shifting to the openside. Dylan Nel will make his Super Rugby debut in the number eight jersey.

Hurricanes v Sharks 

Dane Coles has been named in the 23-man squad set to take on the Sharks at Sky Stadium this Saturday. TJ Perenara will captain the side, which remains largely unchanged from last weekend.
 
Vince Aso will replace Billy Proctor at outside centre, while Scott Scrafton makes a return to the forward pack.  In the loose forwards, Reed Prinsep will start at number 8 with Gareth Evans moving to openside, while Vaea Fifita makes his first start of the season. Jackson Garden-Bachop gets his second start in a row at first-five with Fletcher Smith back on the bench.

The notable change to the Sharks team that defeated the Highlanders last week is the introduction of Boeta Chamberlain at flyhalf in the place of Curwin Bosch who has unfortunately had to deal with a family bereavement and has returned home to South Africa.

There are no other changes to the starting line-up, but Sean Everitt has selected a pack-heavy bench with six forwards and just two backs in anticipation of the physical battle that has been anticipated.

 Brumbies v Highlanders 

Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has made three changes to the starting XV ahead of their showdown with the Highlanders in Canberra on Saturday. 96 Test Wallaby James Slipper will start for the first time in 2020 with Scott Sio named as a replacement as the side look to make it three from three to start their season. 2020 recruit Will Miller gets his first opportunity in the number seven jersey, replacing Tom Cusack, who is rested following a head knock last weekend, while Darcy Swain will slot straight back into the second row after recovering from injury. The reshuffle also sees the return of crowd favourite Lachlan McCaffrey, local product Tom Ross and dynamic outside back Len Ikitau who have all been named in the replacements for their first appearances this season.

A win on Saturday night will see the team increase their winning streak at GIO Stadium to 11, which would be the equal second longest in the club's history.

Highlanders Head Coach, Aaron Mauger, has largely stayed with the team from the first-round loss against the Sharks making only two selection changes to the starting fifteen. Shannon Frizell swaps places with Dillon Hunt on the bench and Patelesio Tomkinson comes in on the right wing. Jesse Parete replaces an injured Paripari Parkinson which brings Jack Whetton into the match day 23 for his first game of the 2020 season.

On the bench, Counties-Manukau Irish prop, Conan O’Donnell (who came into the squad for the injured Jeff Thwaites) gets an opportunity to impress this week

 Lions v Stormers

Lions prop Dylan Smith will run out in his 50^th Super Rugby game on Saturday. The burly prop made his Super Rugby debut in 2016 and has scored two tries.

In the only change to the starting line-up Manuel Rass comes in at centre in the place of Duncan Matthews. Meanwhile, Willem Alberts returns to Super Rugby via the bench.

There are four changes to the Stormers starting line-up. Scrumhalf Godlen Masimla, loose forward Juarno Augustus and prop Wilco Louw will all make their first starts of the season in the South African derby. Masimla and Augustus come in for the injured Herschel Jantjies and Jaco Coetzee respectively, with Johan du Toit shifting to flank from the back of the scrum.